Stock-feeding device.



H. JENKINS'.

STOCK FEEDING DEVICE.

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SHEETS-SHEET l` attenua? H. JENKINS. STOCK FEBDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1907. 901,620, Patented 0013.20, 1908. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HENRY JENKIN, F WEIR, KANSAS.

Cir

PATENT oEEIoE.`

sTocx-'FEEDING DEvIcE.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

To all whom it may concern: A

Be it known thatAI, HENRY JENKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Weir, in the county of Cherokee and State of Kansas,'have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Stock-Feeding Devices, ofv which the following is a specification. 4,

This invention relatesto devices for feeding animals and consists in certain peculiaritiesin the construction of parts and in certain novel combinations and arrangements of'elements substantially as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

Among the objects of the invention the following may be specially mentioned, namely:--First, to provide a most simple, practical andeflicient means for vcontrolling the supply of feed in -measured quantities to a fee trough or troughs. v Second, to pro-- vide a valve controlled stock feeding device with means' whereby the feed may be slpef `Aplied to the feed trough or troughs-in pre termined uantities which may be most readily and easily adjusted to accord with the re uirements of the particular animal, being ed.l Third, to provide a valve-controlled stock feeding device havin means whereby the lfeed may be supplie to the trough in measured quantities, variable to suit the requirements of the particular animal being fed, and with means for indicating the quantity whichthe measuring box'or 'compartment is set to su ply. Fourth, to

provide a valve controlle stock feeding device, having means for supplying both hay and grain, and said means provided with a controlling means common to both. These severalobjects are well'accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichzl vFigure 1 is a plan view of a stock feedin device embodying my improvements, wit the feed receptacles or hoppers removed, showing-the 'several parts 1n the positions they-normally occu y. Fig.' 2 is a longitudinal sectional view t ereof on thev line' 2--2 of Fig. 3. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.' 1 with the hoppers added. Fig. 4 is a detail view of part of one of the hoppers, showing the means by which feed maybe Withdrawn from said -ho per without passingthroughthc measuring ox. .-Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view -of lthe means in the measuring' compartment by Vwhich lthe capacity of compartment 1s adjusted. Fig. 6 is a side view of a partbf one of the measuring boxes, showing the 1ndicating means. tion on the line 7-'7 of Fig. 1 showing the ha platform in, position to dumptle hay.

he same numerals of reference designate 4the same parts in the several views.

The invention embodied in the resent application includesv one, or referaiily a series of measuring boxes 6A w ich are supplied with feed from lreceptacles (preferably hoppers) 4 and leadto chutes 3 which conduct `the food tothe troughs, respectively. Thei hoppers are provided with throats 5 each of which lead to a'measurin box and is provided with a valve 23 whic opens and closes communication of the hopper with the measuring box. The outlet end of each measuring box also is provided with a valve 28, which opens and closes communication of said box with the feed trough. The two valves for controlling the supply4 of feed to and from the respective measuring boxesare operated by a means hereinafter set forth, whichis common .to both and is such 'that it reciprocates Vthe valves reversely, closing the one while it opens the other.-

An 'mportan-t mechanism disclosed is that it does not re.-

Fig. 7 1s a transverse sec-` feature of the particular' quiresprings as a part of the 'operating means, which springs, are more or 'less liable to get out of order, and are therefore unrehable in operation, and add unnecessarily to the cost of'production and maintenance of the machine. The hoppers may all be sm'- gle, ,or all double, or there may be one or more single hoppers and one or more double hoppers in the connected series (wltha corresponding arrangement of measuring boxes and' discharge chutes fromthe measuring boxes) to suit the wishes of the user and to accord with the arrangement of the troughs.

It is generally preferred to provide each measuring box with a paire of measuring compartments, or, as th'e equivalent thereon, to arrange Athe boxes -in pairs, and b'ecause 1t is preferred, such double l arr ngement is illustrated and described in tliaapplication In addition to the features scribed, each measuring box or compartment 1s made ad- ..`ustable so as to vary the quantity of feed to e supplied thereb andeach is provided with means rfor in 'eating the places of ade 'ustment -for the various quantities to be ed, which means obviously will also indicate the amount which each box or compartment hoppers without passing through the measurlng box or compartment supplied thereby v and also includes means' by which any or more of the devices may be cut out entirely when the trough supplied thereby is in an unoccupied stall, or when for any other reason it is not desired to supply said trough with feed. Y

A furtherimportant feature of the invention consists in providing it with one or more hay platforms or receptacles 6() which are adapted to be tilted to dump their contents into the hay compartments of the feed troughs with which they respectively communicate, and the dum ing of Which is effected automatically un er the control of the means which controls the supply of grain or feed from the measuring boxes. A most simple means for effecting this consists in providing one of the valves of the measuring box with means adapted to engage the hay platform and sup ort it in its non-dumping position and Whic means in a predetermined movement of said valve releases said platform and permits it to tilt. i

Having thus described in general terms the features of the invention, the preferred means for carrying the same into practical effect will now be set forth in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Y

1 designates the support of the system of feeding devices employed, and which su port preferably is rovided by the iioor, o a eed room situatei above the stall-containing room of a stable or barn. Said floor is provided at intervals with openings 2 from each of which leads a chute ory runway 3 to the trough (not shown) beneath. Above each opening is the measuring box '6 and above each measuring box is a hopper 4 havwith a means which indicatesthe ing a throat 5 leading to its said box. In the form selected to exem the invention,- each measuring box 6 is 'vided into separate measuring compartments and each htpper 4 has a plurality of throats 5 which lverge from each other and lead to the respective A compartment of said box.

In order to vary the quantity of feed supplied from each measurmg box or compartment each is provided with a slidable section adjustable, to .cut of't` any desired portion thereof, and each slidable section is provided uantity which the box or compartment has een set to measure, which means preferably comprises aV relatively movable ointer and scaleone of which partakes of t e 'movement of the slidable section. Moreover, some animals re nire more feed than others and the present evice comprises means by'which the capacities of the boxes or compartments canj compartment of sai box are formed by the walls 8 and 10. In order to facilitate the in dependent adjustment of the walls 7 and 8 each is preferably provided with side pieces 11 having outward projections 12 which extend through openings 12 in the sides of the box 6 and may form handles to be grasped by the attendant in the adjustment of said walls by hand. Moreover, as each of these projections 12 is exposed to view it will serve to disclose the position in which the wall attached to it has been adjusted and may cooperate with a suitable scale to indicate the adjustment in units of measure or weight, as hereinafter more fully set forth. The other adjustable walls, 9 and 10, of each box 6 are connected with each other by side pieces 13 which extend through openings in the walls 7 and 8 and throughout the length of the box and project beyond the ends of said box. 4These side piecesI are connected with each other byvtransverse end pieces 14, thus forming an open frame which carries said Walls 9 and 10 and is composed of said side and end pieces. It will now be seen that by adjustingv said framein one or the other direction the end walls 9 and 10 are moved toward or from their com anions 7 and 8 respectively, and thereby simultaneously reduce or increase the capacit of the several measuring compartments an correspondingly reduce or increase the amount of the feed of all theanii mals: and it will be further seen that by adjusting both or either of said end walls 7 and mals the same or different amountof feed at4 the meal, and that said equality or inequality of the capacities of the two com artments is not varied by any subsequent a justment of the end Walls 9 and 10.

lpartments, may be provided to act as cutoifs Any suitable means, for example the plate.S I 1'6 on the adjustable end walls of the cometween the throats 5 andlthe portions of the boxes which are intended ,tov be excluded from use, so as to prevent access of feed to the latter. In practice, there are a series of *such boxes 6 according in number and osivtion lwithy thel number and position o the trou hs'withrwln'ch they are`connected byv the c utes 3 ,and the several frames carrying` .the'e'nd-Walls 9 and `10 are connected for vsimultaneous' operation by rods 17 or other suitthe outlets from.

" Whichever is '5 0.

y. bo ent shown 1n 22 which register with each other ,18 suitably attachedwat one end to theiend piece 14 of sald frame and provided at its other end with a wheel-or handle 19 for convenience in turning it, 'said'rod having a threaded connectionbetween its ends with a bearing`20 whereby it is moved longitudinally when turned, thus imparting similar longitudinal movement to the Vseries of connected walls 9 and 10.

Interposed between the top of each feed box 6 and the outlets from the throats 5 is a frame which forms the top of said box and is n composed of two plates or strips 21, of metal or other suitable material, having openings and with the throats 5. These strips are referably secured together throughout theirliongitudinal edges, by soldering one to the other or by folding the edges of one over the other, or otherwise as preferred, and they are relatively arranged to provide a space between them which receives a slidable plate 23. Said-plate is formed with openings 24 and solid places 25 and constitutes a valve which controls the access offeed from said throats l5 to the respective compartments of the feedl box 6. The bottom of said box is formed by guide stri s 26similar in relative arrangement to t ose (21) above specified and having registered openings 27 which constitute the measuring compartments, and between said strips reciprocates a valve 28 having two o enings 29 and solid laces 30 adapted to register with said openings 27 and control the flow.l of feed therethrough. These valves are operated reversely, so as to close communication of each measuring compartment with the hopper when communication of said compartments with the troughs is open, and vice versa and the valves ofthe plurality f feed boxes are connected with each otl er for simultaneous operation b means which com rise an actuating hand e or lever 31, whic may be located close to or. at a distance from the boxes, (preferred, and connecting dewhich avoid the necessity of In the particular emthe accompanying drawings and preferred 'by me, said handle or lever 31 is xedly connected with a shaft 32, which-shaft is rovided with a lpulley 33, to which is secure oraround Whic is wrapped, a rope or other suitable flexible connecting means 34 the ends 0f which are attached to the ends of the'valves 23 and 28'of the first measuring box and the lower portion of which passes over an .idler 35 v tween said pulley 33 and valve 2S, so that in one movement of the lever one end portion of said connecting means .will be .pulled and vices Aof a kin em loying springs.

iv move the valve towhich Ait is attached, and.

arranged beslide 52 having the other movement of said lever will, similarly, act on the other end portion of said connecting means and move the othervalve.

At the opposite end said valves are connected with eachother by a rope or other suitable iiexible means 36 which passes over an idlercr idlers 37, whereby movement of one is communicated to the other 1n reverse direction.

Means are also provided by which the valves are held in adjusted osition, preferably comprising a ratchet W eel 38 ixedl connected with said shaft 32 and a paw 39 to engage the teeth of said wheel. When a series of feeding devices are em loyed the upper valves-23lwill be connecte with each other, preferably b rigidrods 40, and the lower valves 28 wil be connected with eachother, preferably by rigid rods 41.

It will be seen that in the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated and described, to operate the valves from the normal position shown best in Fig. 3 (in which the measuring compartments are in open communication with the hoppers 4 and closed to the chutes 3) when it is desired to supply feed to the troughs, the operator pulls the up er, handle, portion of the lever 31 toward im, thus pulling u on the upper portion of the rope 34 and rawing the upper valves 23 in thesame the same to close communication of the measuring compartments with the hopper 4 by interposing their solid portions 25 between said compartments and the throats 5. This movement of the upper valves draws the lower valves in the reverse direction and brings their openings 29 into registration with the opemngs 27 forming the outlets from the respective measuring compartments and thereby opens communication of said compartments with the chutes 3. When said compartments have been emptied and it is desired to resupply the same with feed for the next meal, the operator presses the lever 31 from him, thus drawing the lower valves 29 toward him and interposing their solid portions 30 between the re istered openings 27 in the guide strips 26 an at the same time drawing the upper valves 23 backward until communication ofthe measuring compartments with the hopper is restablished.

In order that any of the measuring boxes or compartments maybe cut off from use a slide valve or plate 50 is provided for each vhopper throat, which valve or late when across the'hopper throat obvious y prevents the passage therefrom ofy feed to the particular box or compartment connected with said throat. Each throat is also rovided with an opening 51 which is normally closed by a flanged ends which ltake over beads or in grooves at the adjacent angles of the throat- By properly .moving this slide 52mg pening 51 is` exposed and feed may be taken from the hopper through said opening.

In practice, it is preferred to arrange the valve or plate 50 at an angle terminating at the lower end of said opening, whereby when the slide 52 is opened and the valve 50 has been inserted the., feed in the hopper'will be automatically withdrawn Without requiring it to pass through the measuring box.

A means which may be employed to indicate the quantities which the .several measuring boxes or compartment have been adjusted to contain is indicated in Fig. 6, and comprises a pointer 43 suitably connected to move with the walls 9.and 10 vand along a suitable scaled dial or index plate 44 located adjacent thereto on a fixed part of the structure: and other index hands or. pointersl which move with the Walls 7 and 8 across suitably scaled plates or dials 45. The index hands or'pointers' which coperate with the dialsor .plates 45 may be provided or carried by the projections 12 from the walls 7 and 8 as hereinbefore set forth.' The scaled plates 44 and 45will obviously bear such relation to each other that they may he readtogether to give the uantity measured bythe compartment o W ich they both relate. Thus one (44 for example) may have its scale such as to indicate the capacity accurately when the wall 7 or 8 of its compartment is at its normal position, that is, at the limit of its adjustment away from the wall 9 and 10, and which position may be indicated by zero on the scale 45. N ow, assuming that said scale 45 is marked -m proper units progressively. from the saidnormal osition of the. walls 7 and 8 and toward t e companion Wall 9 or 10, it will be apparent that merely by subtracting the amount indicated on the scale 45 fromthe amount indicated on the scale 44 the actual capacity of the compartment 'is found.'

he hay platform 60 hereinbefore referred to is pivotally mounted between suitable bearingsor supports 61 in which its pivots 62 are journaled, and in the particular and preferred embodiment herein-shown it is supported in its non-tilted position by the adj acent valve'28 when the latter is adjusted to close the dischar e opening of the measuring box, its forwar side being provided, as shown, with a forwardly extending rojection -63 which rests upon a similar ylateral pro'ection 64 from the contiguous edge of sai valve when the latter is in its position referred to. 5 Itiwill beapparent that movement of said fvalve 28 "toward the position which opens the exit aperture from its measuring box will carry its projection 54 out of engagement with the rojection 63 of the platform, thus freeing t e atter and permitting it to turn into dumping position bythe Weight of the hay platform. The main support 1 `is formed with an oe'ning v65 prefer-v ably having a beveled wa through which the projection 63 travels. The weights of the platform at opposite lsides of the pivots i 62 are preferably so pro ortioned that when the contents of the plat orm are dumped the latter will automatically return by gravity to its normal position, with its projection 63 in position to permit'the projection 64 to travel to its place beneath it in the return of the valve 28 to its closing position.

Some stock owners or attendants prefer to feed the hay in advance of the rain. It is therefore desirableandpreferre to so position theopenings 29 in the valve 28 that they will not reach the outlets .27 which they control Iuntil after the platform 60 has been-V dumped, whereby, if desired, a step-by-step movement may be imparted to said valve, the first step thereof releasing the platform l and the second step thereof opening the outlet from the grain box and occurring at an It will be apparent that the actuating handle or lever 31 may, if desired, be located in a different .room from thatA containin the measuring boxes or even in a different uilding from the same. Thus it may be4 located in the owners'residence, properly located leadv pulleys for the flexible connectlng means being provided in such event.

Having t us described the inventionwhat I believe to be new and desire to .secure by.

Letters Patent is I x1.' In a stock feeding device, the combination with a feed receptacle, having a measuring compartment beneath the same,- and slide .valves arranged above and below said measuring compartment, of means for simultaneously operating'v said valvesln reverse directions, comprising an operating lever, flexible connectlons between said lever and valves, a pulley at the end of the device remote from said lever and a flexible connectin device Yhavingits ends secured to said va ves and its intermediate. part engaged with said pulley. e 2. In a stock feedin tion with aplurality o? device, the combinafeed receptacles, havlng a measuring compartment beneath each.

of the same, and slide .valves arranged above and below said4 measuring compartmentsj'of.

means for operating said valves, comprising an operating lever., flexible connections between said lever and adjacent valves, a pulley at the end of the device remote from said lever, flexible connecting means having its ioo - with said pulley,

valves and its mterme Vlate part. engaged means connecting the upper valves with each other and means connecting the lower valves with each other.

3. In a stock feeding device, the combination of a measuring box having a plurality of measuring compartments each of Which has an inlet opening at its top and an outlet opening at itsbottom, a valve covering the top of said box' and provided with a plurality of openings adapted to register with the inlet o enings to said com artments to admit feed t ereto and with a p urality of solid portions ada ted to cover said openings to exclude fee therefrom, a valve coverin the bottom of said box and having a lura ity of open- 1 ings and solid portions a apted to register termediate part lower valves,

same an the contiguous with the outlet openings from said compartments, and means for sliding said valves simultaneously inreverse directions comprising an operating lever, connections between the same and said valve,.said connections includinga flexible connecting device attached to said valves, a pulley at the end of the device remote from said'lever and a flexible connecting device having its ends secure/d toD the contiguous ends of the valves and its iriengaged with said pulley.

4. ln a stock tion of a plurality of measuring boxes each having a plurality of measuring compartments and each of Which compartments has an inlet opening at its top and an outlet opening at its bottom, a valve covering the top of each box and provided with a plurality of openings adapted to register With the inlet o enings to said compartments and with a p urality of solid portions adapted to cover said openin s, to admit feed to and exclude it from sai compartments, respectively,`a valve coveringthe boxes and having a plurality of openings-and solid portions adapted to register with the outlet o enings from said compartments, and means ork sliding said valves simultaneously in reverse directions, (com rising an actuating devicev connected Wit said upper and valves with each other at the end of the device remote from'said actuating device, and means connecting the lower valves With each other. l

' 5. A stock feeding devicecomprisinge a measuring box having an inlet and an out t,

.valves for controlling the inlet to and the outlet from `said box, and means for operat-` ing said valves simultaneously in reverse directions, said operating means comprising a actuatin lever, connections between the and means connecting the other ends of said valves with each otherand adav ted to transemit motion from one to the ot er in reverse` Idirections.

nt upper and lower feeding'device, the combina-A bottom of each of said\ lfrom one vvalve to the other, means for connecting .the 't' ends of the valves,

Astock feeding device comprisin a measuring box having an inlet and an ouet, r valves for controlling the inlet to and the .outlet from said b ox, and 'means .for operating said valves simultaneously in reverse directions, 4said operating means com risin an actuatinglever, apshaft With Whic sai lever is iixedly connected, a pulley on said shaft, flexible connections engaged with said' pulley and having ends secured to contiguous ends of the valves, and means connecting the other ends of said valves With each other and adapted to transmit motion from one to the other in reverse direction 7. A stock feeding device comprising a measuring box having an inlet and an out et, valves for controlling the inlet to andthe outlet from' said box, and means for operatingsaid valves simultaneously in reverse directions, said operating means comprising an actuating lever, a shaft with which said lever isixedly connected, a pulley on said shaft,

flexible connectionsengaged with said pulley and havin ends attached to contiguous fends of the 4va ves, a ratchet iixedly connected With said shaft, a paWl to engage said ratchet, and means connecting the other ends of said valves with each other and ada tedto transmit motion' from one to' the ot er in reverse directions.

8. A stock feeding device, comprising .a measuring receptacle having a slidable Wall and an inlet and an outlet side,V a slidable valve controlling the inlet side of the receptacle, a slidable valve controlling the outlet side of the receptacle, said valves arranged above and below said Wall, and means for transmitting movement from one valve to the other, in reverse direction.

9. A stock feeding device comprising a measuring receptacle Walls each mounted to slide toward the other and independently of said other, said recep-` tacle also having an inlet to and an outlet from the spacebetwee'n its Walls, slidable valves res ectively controlling said inlet and outlet an means for transmitting movement in reverse direcion. l I

10'.v A stock feeding device provided with means arranged to form a plurality of measl'iaving a plurality of;

uring compartments, said means including anv element in each compartment adjustable to vary the capacity thereof, and means connectin the adjustable elements with each other or unitary movement.

11. A stock feeding device com rising walls arranged to provide a plurality o measuringA .compartments land a slidable frame connectedwith a wall of each com artment.

12, stock feeding device provided With a pluralit ofi measuring compartments eachl ofwhic has an adjustable Wall, and a slid'V ablev frame 'car e ing anotherlwall of each of the plurality o compartments.

13. A stock feeding device comprising a .box having walls forming therein a plurality for controlling the inlets and outlets, one wall of each compartment being ad'ustable and means connecting the adjustable walls with each other for unitary movement.

14. A stock feeding device comprising a box having walls forming therein a plurality of measurin plurality of mdependently adjustable wa ls, and means connecting one wall of one compartment with a wall of the other compartment, for unitary adjustment.

15. A stock feeding device having a plurality of-measuring compartments each of which is provided with a plurality of independently adjustable walls, means connecting one wall of each compartment with a like wall of another compartment, for unitary movement, others of said adjustable vwalls being free from connection with each other.

- 16. A stock feeding device com rising'a plurality of measuring boxes each yaving a slidable wall, an adjustable means lfor said Walls connected With one ofthe same and means connecting said walls with ,each other whereby they are moved simultaneously.

' 17. A stock feeding device com rising a plurality of measuring boxes each aving a plurality of measuring compartments, a slidableframe for each box provided with a plurality of Walls each of which constitutes an adjustable wall of one compartment, adjustable means secured to one of said frames and means connecting the plurality of frames with each other.

18. A stock feeding device comprising a luralit of measuring boxes each of which as a p urality of measuring compartments,

each of said compartments having a wall and each of said walls being adjustable independently of the other, a slidable frame in each box, each frame provided with a plurality of walls each of which constitutes an adjustable lWall of a compartment, and means for adjusting said frames simultaneously.

19. A 4izock feeding device having a measuring compartment open at the top and bottom and composed of a three-sided frame and compartments each havin a a Wall, said frame and Wall having slidable` connection with each other, and valves for said open top and bottom.

20. A stock feeding device having a measuring compartment open at the top and bottom and composed of a three-sided frame and a wall, said frame and wall having slidable nation with a measuring com artment having the supply 'ing valvular means for control of means from of feed thereto and therefrom,

which said compartment is supplied, com` prising a receptacle having an opening and an inclined cut-off movable across said receptacle and adapted to conduct the feed to said opening, for the purpose specified.

22. A stock feeding device, comprising a grain box, having a valve, and a tiltable hay platform, said valve having means whereby it supports the platform'in non-dumping position when in one of its positions and removes such supports in its adjustment to another position.

23. A stock feeding device comprising a grain box having an outlet and a valve controlling its outlet, a tiltable hay platform supported 'in non-.dumping position by said valve when the latter is closed, and means for-operating said valve to open said outlet and release said platform.

24. A stock feeding device, comprising a grain box having an outlet and a valve controlling its outlet, said valve provided with a lateral projection, a tiltable hay platform having a projection to en age said projection from the valve and W ereby said platform is su ported in non-dumping position by said va ve when the latter is closed, and means for operating said valve to open said outlet and release said platform.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY JENKINS.

Witnesses JAMES RIDDLE, JOHN J EwERs. 

